Organizers of the Lebanon International Oil and Gas (LIOG) Summit announced that they launched the 2017 edition of the event, which will be held at the prestigious Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand Hotel, 9 and 10 May, 2017, under the high patronage of HE Eng. Cesar Abi Khalil, Lebanon’s minister of energy and water, and in collaboration with the Lebanese Petroleum Administration (LPA).
According to a statement by the organizers, The 3rd LIOG-2017 will provide “the meeting place for industry executives and experts to gain invaluable insight to the opportunities presented in Lebanon; the challenges and the road ahead for companies and investors.”
The summit is expected to highlight the big progress by Lebanon’s new government to advance Lebanon’s vast oil and gas potential after developing highly advanced world-class regulatory and operational frameworks for this nascent industry.
Launched in 2012 to support Lebanon’s initial findings and to explore the potential of the country’s hydrocarbon resources, LIOG 2017 will build on the success of its previous editions which attracted hundreds of delegates and dozens of high-caliber speakers from over 30 countries representing over 150 local and international companies and organizations, including major international oil companies (IOCs).
Held under the slogan ‘Lebanon – Moving forward’, LIOG-2017 is expected to cover key areas with over 30 Lebanese, regional and international expert speakers who will share their insight on the following:
- Lebanon’s position as a key hydrocarbons player in the Mediterranean. Discussions will highlight recent achievements, show the new potential of the country and provide delegates with an overview of the legal, financial and technical frameworks.
- Current and expected market conditions and regional geopolitics, along with their impact on Lebanon. In depth discussions will cover issues like providing return on investment even with low hydrocarbon prices and drawing on international experiences, particularly in terms of turning such challenges into opportunities for all stakeholders.
- The many benefits that Lebanon has to offer and how has the country restated itself as an attractive destination for oil and gas investments.
All the above subjects will be presented in a well-structured, very rich programme over two consecutive days.
Participants are expected to include, in addition to the prequalified companies for Lebanon’s first licensing round, a wide range of service providers, like drilling and well servicing contractors; engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors; banks and insurers; specialized law firms; HSE consultants and suppliers, and more.
Paul Gilbert, Managing Director of one of the organising companies, Global Events Partners Ltd (GEP), said, “following the recent approval by Lebanon’s council of ministers of the two crucial decrees, and the official launch of the sector, everything is now in place for the Lebanese government to go ahead with the long-awaited first licensing round. We strongly believe that LIOG-2017 Summit has a pivotal role in this exercise, particularly in terms of promoting the country’s potentials and drawing investors.”
Dory Renno, Managing Director of the co-organising company, Planners and Partners S.A.L. said, “We believe in Lebanon and in its business climate, which makes it a great place for the conferences and exhibitions industry, We also strongly believe that successful conferences like LIOG reflect a positive image about Lebanon as an attractive investment arena, and highlight the many achievements by the the government in terms of creating the right operational frameworks and promoting transparency in a sustainable manner.’’
Renno indicated that the Summit will also boast an international exhibition showcasing the latest products and services available by local, regional and international companies and organizations, and provide a unique branding opportunity for exhibitors.”
Lebanon, which is believed to have sizable hydrocarbon resources, has recently announced that five offshore blocks will be on offer in its first licensing round which is expected to take place during 2017 according to a well designed road map.
Over 46 international companies were prequalified in 2013, and a new prequalification round is expected to take place in March 2017.
The 3rd LIOG-2017 Summit is organised by UK-based Global Events Partners Ltd (GEP) and their Lebanese partner, Planners and Partners sal. Global Event Partners Ltd is affiliated to the dmg::events network.
dmg::events are the organisers of world renowned oil and gas events including Gastech, ADIPEC, the Global Petroleum Show and the World Heavy Oil Congress and are a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc, one of the largest media companies in the UK.